Showing posts with label afterschool. Show all posts
Showing posts with label afterschool. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 01, 2018

Czech Parenting Policy

The Czech government is primarily interested in giving the families true and genuine freedom to decide on the form of reconciling their family, personal and professional lives, but not only in relation to the support of employment. The Czech Republic perceives the home parental care for small children as a full-value and socially relevant alternative to gainful activity, while fully respecting different preferences and strategies of the parents in taking care of their children. In order to implement the principle of freedom to choose the duration and scope of care for the child itself, the governments considers it essential to create suitable conditions also for those parents, who decide to care for their children largely themselves, without making use of the child care services. 

The Czech Republic supports such parents, in particular, by a sufficiently long period of maternity and parental leave. In addition, it provides financial support throughout the parental care for a child during the maternity and parental leave in order to compensate as much as possible the loss of wage and the lost opportunities, by granting tax allowances for the working parent, supporting family services focused on prevention of social exclusion of parents caring for children under maternity or parental leave (such as mother and family centres) and supporting projects to enhance parental competence through appropriately targeted subsidized facilities.

Friday, April 13, 2018

Act 47 recommends -- Throwback to June 30, 2004 and the Trib

Pittsburgh has a new acting director of Citiparks in early 2018, and I'm excited to meet with him about some fun summer plans.
This is a snip from the Tribune, June 30, 2004 when a divided council passes the Act 47 plan. The headline in this part read: Key recommendations of the Act 47 recovery plan:
Playing well with others, in the city, took a beating in those times and never fully recovered.

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Penn Hills Baseball - Team photos

Click image for larger view. 

Robins

First year of organized baseball. One game I made all three outs in the same inning. Our team was up at bat. I played second base and was jazzed that we were winning by so much. Then we took the field and my team mate, Kevin, (middle of the photo) revealed that obscure stat to me on my at-bat performance that past inning.

Orange team. 

I think we went with colors as the team name. I stayed, by choice, in farm league. Our teams always had a lot of double plays.

Back row: Timmey, Frankie, McBunney, Mr. Will.
Middle row: Maxwell, Me (Mark Rauterkus), Danny Anderson, Janokaweki, Higgins.
Front row: Dave Cioca, Duffu, Garry, P. Beraradino, M. Beraraino (brothers I guess). Spelling unsure. Source is scribble on back of photo.

Mavericks. 

Back row: Mr. Finn on back left, then me, Mark Rauterkus, ? George Boyle, Dan Anderson, Terry Flaherty.
Middle row:
Front row:

Angles:

Back row: Coach ?, me, Mark Rauterkus, ?, Timmy Meyers, Coach, Coach.
Middle row: Tommy, Jan B, Randy R, Binywild, Sammy.
Front row: Straw, Kevin, Joey, Mark Kucher, ?, ?

Saturday, February 10, 2018

Fwd: USNA Summer Seminar and Summer STEM - Now is the Time!

Something to consider for summer for middle and high school students:

These programs at NAVY may interest some, especially if STEM-focused.  

1.  For an out-of-the-ordinary STEM summer session at the U.S. Naval Academy (5 days, students residing in the dormitory, Bancroft Hall), and it's for 8th-10th Graders (for the Fall).  The Academy Admissions Office drafted the email notice itself, and passed it out to USNA Blue & Gold Officers around the country.  "Blue & Gold Officers" (like Coach Ed) work with the Admissions Office to help spread the word about not-your-normal but hopefully stimulating programs that younger students may find challenging, particularly if they love STEM or science fields.  

2.  For a Summer Seminar about a college - a week like no other.  This is for rising Seniors who may be considering a career in the Navy or Marine Corps, and wish to see a bit of what it may be like (or more!)  Through the lens of one of the pathways to becoming an officer, at the U.S. Naval Academy.  Like the STEM Summer Session for younger students, this one is also residential, so parents drop 'em off and pick 'em up later!  

Below is the approved USNA-style email advisory:

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Good afternoon!
The applications for the United States Naval Academy's Summer Seminar and Summer STEM are OPEN!

Summer STEM is geared toward students currently in 8th, 9th and 10th grade, the Summer STEM residential program will give attendees an opportunity to engage in hands-on math and science activities with our faculty and midshipmen. 
 
2018 Sessions:
June 4-9 for current 8th graders (rising 9th graders)
June 11-16 for current 9th graders (rising 10th graders)
June 18-22 for current 10th graders (rising 11th graders)
 
Attached is a digital brochure and the website is:

Naval Academy Summer Seminar (NASS) offers an opportunity for rising high school seniors to experience the academy for one week. Participants learn about life at the Naval Academy, where academics, athletics, and professional training play equally important roles in developing our nation's future leaders at this four-year college.
2018 Sessions:
June 2-7
June 9-14
June 16-21
 
Attached is a digital brochure and the website is:
This past summer,
USNA
 hosted students from all 50 states, US territories, as well as students living abroad. Both attendees and parents raved about the experience, and we are counting on you to help spread the word about these fantastic opportunities. 
You can check out more on Facebook at:
 
Please watch and
feel free to
share our videos:
 


Monday, February 05, 2018

PPS offering Restorative Practices Training Sessions

Several restorative practices training sessions are being offered in February and March, 2018.

Introduction to Restorative Practices and Using Circles Effectively is offered once per month at no-cost to PPS staff and District partners who have not yet attended restorative practices training. Note that all sessions take place at the Greenway Professional Development center (1400 Crucible St, 15205) from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm with a one hour break for lunch. Additionally, registration is limited to 30 participants per session. District partners can register by e-mailing restorativepractices@pghboe.net. For additional details and contact Keiterez Bynum at 412-529-3985 with questions.

More insights at this PDF.

draft of a new slide deck on issues with PPS


Slide show updated

Monday, December 18, 2017

No practice policy at PPS throughout the holidays is a way to soil the slogan, EXPECT GREAT THINGS.

UPDATE: I got a call from the PPS COO and we were granted permission to practice on a couple / few days of the winter break. Permits were submitted.


- - original post - - 

Hi Dr. Hamlet:

Coaches need to coach. Athletes need to practice.

It is CRAZY to not grant the varsity swim teams, and, for that matter the coaches and players for the varsity basketball teams and wrestlers, NO ACCESS to their high school facilities for the duration of the Christmas break.

Teams should be able to use the facilities in the schools on these dates:
Saturday Dec 23
Wednesday, Dec 27
Thursday, Dec 28
Friday, Dec 29
Saturday, Dec 30

The teams could hold practices within the window of time from 9 am to 2 pm on those days. 

No games. No outside teams, but we need practice times. 

We have had problems with this in past years. We have had been granted practice time last year. In other years, not so much. I've stood in the lobby of our school one year with 15 kids ready to go to practice on December 26 and been refused entry to the swim pool by the custodian because the principal did not sign off on the pool permit. 

This year they're not even allowing any permit to be written. 

Other school districts often hold three practices a day over the holidays. We get NONE. We want to compete. 



--
Ta.


Mark Rauterkus       Mark@Rauterkus.com
PPS Summer Dreamers' Swim & Water Polo Camp Executive Coach
Varsity Boys Swim Coach, Pittsburgh Obama Academy
Recent Head Water Polo Coach, Carnegie Mellon University Women's Club Team
Pittsburgh Combined Water Polo Team

http://CLOH.org

412 298 3432 = cell

Friday, November 17, 2017

Learning Links

The Origin of Everything YouTube Channel from PBS investigates the “why” behind many aspects of everyday life. The fun videos are perfect for your most curious students, or for getting students excited about learning on their own. Video topics range from history (Why is there a South and North Korea?) to pop culture (Where does the #Hashtag come from?).
Quizlet Diagrams help students see what they're learning in a whole new way. Whether you're studying human anatomy or national geography, this new feature makes studying a lot more fun. Create custom diagrams, or choose from Quizlet's premade sets.


Sadly, Quizlet is not free. Get a free period of 14-days, then pay for the year. I won't be paying. 

Monday, November 13, 2017

Monday, November 06, 2017

Conservative foil: Sue Kerr of Pgh Lesbian Correspondents


Let's ponder the definition. “Conservative” is holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics or religion.

Sue Kerr, a blogger, (I am a blogger too) is playing the role of a conservative and asking people to vote “NO” to the City of Pittsburgh ballot measure that I have championed because:

- She has not found anyone with actual facts, however, she refused to answer my friend request on Facebook and refused to discuss this with me despite my repeated approaches to her. So, her seeking is more like planned avoidance. Come on Sue. Why can't we be friends? One of my central themes as a coach and advocate for better government is “playing well with others.”

- Then she writes, “the narrow exclusion would only benefit a few people.” Really? You really want to put hardships on super-minorities? You think that because only a fraction of the population is (insert letter of your choice) that they don't deserve the rights of others? What about protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity? Hey, that is a “narrow” and those protections only benefit a few people. So, let's let things as they are. So conservative of you.

Pittsburgh passed a law with sexual orientation protection and that benefits few – and I'm proud to have that as part of the fabric of our city's legacy. Helping a few people helps us all be better, be stronger, be more whole. At its roots, the ballot question is about non-discrimination. I don't like discrimination, even for a few, and I'm puzzled why you favor it.

- Vote no, posts Sue, “because some are already coaching and teaching in public universities as adjunct faculty (just Google a few names.)” What? Who? Name names! I know of none. Should we google the entire city payroll? And, what might that uncover? I don't have the names of all the city workers. Sue, why don't you send this posting to Michael Lamb, city controller. Does your partner work for CCAC? I don't know what to think. I lost my decoder ring anyway. And, let's say it is true in that perhaps there are a few workers in the city who are already working another part-time job, against the norm and city charter's stipulations, for CCAC and /or Pittsburgh Public Schools – then what? Do you want to whistleblow? Or, would you just forgive them and not allow others the same opportunities? Then vote YES with me. Or, are you just without any logic and wishing to spread fog and doubt?

- Since, as Sue posted, “enforcement of this ban has certainly not been consistent” then it makes sense to vote YES and be done with this opportunity for meaningless rule-breaking. All should know that I championed this ballot question because last year a newly-hired coach was forced off of the PPS job because of his city employment with the department of public works. Real work actions, to my knowledge, have been fully consistent and ethical. He should not have worked last year – and he didn't. But, he should be able to work as a coach next week if we change the charter. And, I hope he applies, gets hired and takes another coaching job as soon as possible.

- Sue thinks a no vote is wise because of a lack of an informed perspective. Wrong. The matter before the voters in the election is for part-time employment. Part-time employment for public-school coaching and adjunct teaching at CCAC is different. The charter's authors didn't visualize every possible situation under the sun for the future of our city. This is an enhancement. Be progressive.

The quote from Mr. O'Connor of city council speaks against a broader exemption as being problematic, but this ballot question is specific and NOT A PROBLEM.
Ms. Rudiak of city council defends the ballot question too. The change is what it is. It is not an exemptions for all types of government side work. It is a question with focus. Perhaps Sue likes uncertainty and sinister plots within her ballot questions. I don't.

- Sue goes on to slam Natalia Rudiak for leaving office at the end of her term. She didn't seek re-election because she is moving on to other chapters in her life. “Who would champion such a thing?” is a direct question from Sue. Answer: A reasonable person who listens to citizens' concerns and does her job while she is hired to do her job. I'm happy that Natalia has not been a lame duck for an entire year.

Sue attempts to throw stones now at the messenger and not the message, a childish ploy.

Sue then plays the not forthcoming victim yet won't converse with me. Joke is on Sue.

Sue gets it wrong again when she posts that the goal is to create more employment and side income opportunities for City employees. Wrong! That is not the goal. Sue knows what the goal is, as the first line of her blog post reads, “… I think students in Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) deserve good coaches.” That's the goal. We had a good coach knocked off of a part-time coaching job opportunity because of a city-charter provision that worked AGAINST good coaching. Here is the formula from 2016-17 season on the PPS pool deck: 2 coaches, minus one, equals less coaching. That's bad. Help fix it.

- Sue asks a question for another day and another referendum, “Why not allow employees to do holiday temp work with the postal service?” That's not the issue. Your thinking that voters should pick “NO” because this ballot question is not going to help the postal service is crazy talk. I'm happy Sue thinks coaching is important. No amount of her lengthy googling should get in the way of a YES vote on this simple measure.

- Sue asks: Is it reasonable to amend our City constitution to address select employment vacancies in PPS? Isn’t that the responsibility of PPS? NO! The sticking point is the city, not PPS. The problem is with the city's charter, not PPS. When fixing a problem, go to the source of the problem. Victims are not to blame.

We’re talking 3,100 people who would be ineligible out of the whole population of the City. Is that a reason to change the constitution? YES. Vote yes. Problem fixed. Changes made. No blood required. This is not a drastic measure. I hate to write such a drastic blog post too.

The 3,100 people who work for the city account for the second largest block of employed people in the city. If five great coaches come from the ranks of the city's work force, they could impact hundreds of kids a year. Whole schools and neighborhoods could change. Teen violence might reversed itself. I know that I help to teach about 200 kids how to swim and swim better every year. In the course of my career, more than 10,000 kids have called me “coach.” The impact of a few coaches can be tremendous. I think that some of the folks who work in the city should have the same opportunities to contribute to the community in meaningful ways as I have had the good fortune to do as well.

I've been known to recruit coaching help for employment needs anywhere and everywhere. Even at UPMC and at AGH. Last year, an kid of an AGH employee was employed with our Summer Dreamers Swim & Water Polo Camp. Furthermore, it is HARD to find qualified candidates to coach in part-time positions. There is a world-wide shortage of lifeguards. Coaching shortages are, well, just google it yourself, Sue.
Sue says that this proposed change will disproportionately benefit men. Sue, ever hear of Title IX? There are not fewer opportunities for women coaches. And, women and men make the same money in coaching with PPS as it is a union-negotiated amount. Double-wrong.

OMG Sue, here is my answer for your absurd question that follows. Yes. Anyone can sue anyone at any time. Sue's Q: “Does this set up the possibility for excluded employees to sue the City because they are not able to pursue a sorting gig with the USPS over the holidays?” No one answered that question – except me.

Only a conservative crank would use the lack of a robust research process on the charter provision’s history – paralysis by analysis – as an excuse for a no vote.

Coaching is a privilege. I am privileged. I coach boys and girls. Title IX insures that the boys and girls get equal treatment.

I do not want to see our police union in Harrisburg at the PA Supreme Court in litigation seeking rights to move their homes and their kids into school districts that are out of the city. Rather, I'd be more willing to permit employees of the city, such as those on the police force, to be permitted to coach their sons and daughters and their classmates in the city's schools programs of sports, music, chess, drama, debate – with part-time jobs. For some, being engaged in the lives of their children is important. And, it is important enough that if my city prohibited that from happening, moving out of the city makes great sense. Let's keep those people here.

And you'd rather have a volunteer coach from the ranks of city employees – for further hardships on families. A volunteer coach isn't accountable. A volunteer coach has no standing with the district and can be flicked aside by the PFT in a heart-beat. Clueless odds are high. I do not want evenly applied coaching employment. I want talented, inspiring coaches. You seem to want to keep employees of the city within financial distress.

Your commending of the city employees who put forth this suggestion is misplaced too. A city resident and a PPS coach, acting on my own, seeing the reality of situations, put forth the ballot measure. The city and the district have been reserved. Let's all applaud people who act with integrity and let's all fix flaws, together. Both big and small flaws count. Don't get in the way of progress because it has always been done in another flawed way. This is fair. This is complete for what it is. If you want utopia, put it on the ballot yourself.

A good reason for you to block this YES vote is because a women helped get it in front of the voters and she is quitting. We are losing women in elected roles so we should not pass measures that they help to advance. Come on.

You, Sue, can write the post-office ballot measure for 2018. Go for it.

By the way, off of society's needs can't be put into one YES or NO ballot measure. By voting YES, the citizens of Pittsburgh get to side-step and fix a WORST-PRACTICE clause in the city's charter. It isn't about “best-practices” – but rather about making improvements.

Friday, October 20, 2017

Email blast with lots of invites

https://pairlist6.pair.net/pipermail/412-public-news/2017-October/000048.html

Divorce of a sports coop

Posted to Facebook about the looming discussions of sports team in Pittsburgh Public Schools with students from U-Prep, Sci-Tech and Obama. 

This (above) does not need to be the case. It is an option. The students, parents and community can make another, better demand.

Sci-Tech could field its own sports teams too. 

CAPA does have X-Country and Track as a HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS TEAMS. 

Sci-Tech could do the same and pick and choose what sports to support -- and then other sports could be left for students to join with their neighborhood schools.

I think it is POSSIBLE that Sci-Tech could have the #1 boys and girls varsity swim teams in the city -- and a team that could climb in the ranks to the top 10 in the state.

Sci-Tech does have a swim pool. It would need to swim its HOME meets elsewhere, but there are plenty of options. Most of the other schools in the WPIAL would be happy to always host swim meets if against Sci-Tech. Or, some of the meets could be squeezed into other suitable pools within PPS, such as at Obama, Perry, Oliver, PCA, and even Dice. Tri-meets (with 3 teams) are also possible and would be encouraged.

As for other sports, it would be GREAT to have Sci-Tech kids join with other city kids to play WATER POLO with Obama as well. That is a fall sport and it leads into winter swimming.

Furthermore, the Sci-Tech middle school swim team should move its season to the SPRING, and not the winter. In the winter, the Sci-Tech MS kids are in the way of the HS kids. And, in the spring, with swimming, the Sci-Tech kids could compete against the other MS programs around the WPIAL, such as at Montour, WA, Carlynton.

Furthermore, it would not be out of the question to have the Sci-Tech kids KEEP the sports Co-Op with other individual sports teams. For example, Sci-Tech boys and girls could play BASKETBALL with U-Prep. I imagine the U-Prep gym is not suited for varsity games. Go figure. So, the practices and games could be at Sci-Tech, with its better gym. The issue is then where to put the MS hoops teams at Sci-Tech? Perhaps one of the squads should practice before school?

On a sport by sport basis, facility by facility, -- this needs to be examined by an athletic sports reform task force from PPS, in a district-wide effort as was done in the past. We made great strides in some areas with the PPS Sports Reform Task Force in the end of the Roosevelt era. Linda Lane killed it. Now it is time for it to resurface. And, if needed, I'd be happy to serve as the chair, without any consultant fees.

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Divorce of a sports coop among U-Prep, Sci-Tech and Obama gets chatter at PPS public comment

Parent of two PPS students, and one attends Sci-Tech presently




A student's voice




Blogger and Coach reactions:

First, I have called for the renewal of the PPS Athletic Reform Task Force. I'll even volunteer to chair such a group as well. We had one back in the day, established by then superintendent Mark Roosevelt. I was put on that task force. We got some good work accomplished and had plenty of additional tasks ahead.

When Lind Lane took over the reigns of the district, the task force died. She was not fond of sports, in my humble opinion.

It is time to renew the task force, hold serious discussions among a wide-reaching audience and plan, plan, plan.

I also spoke at the meeting, and I didn't video tape my own talk. I'm looking for the audio and can't find it, just yet.

If there is a divorce of the coop among U-Prep, Sci-Tech and Obama, the outcomes may not be as described in the public comment so far. Sci-Tech could choose to field some of its own sports teams. It would be great if Sci-Tech had varsity swimming teams for boys and girls. It would be fine if Sci-Tech had varsity soccer team too, but that is more of a stretch. Perhaps Sci-Tech and U-Prep can form their own co-op.

Sports co-ops can be made on a sport-by-sport basis. It does not need to be the same marriage with every sport.

Likewise, in soccer, Obama might choose to still be in a co-op with Sci-Tech and U-Prep, but get out of the co-op for basketball. Then U-Prep can have its own team for basketball. Same too for Sci-Tech basketball.

There are plenty of moving pieces, and a few principals can't be trusted in crafting the best outcomes -- and everyone else just sitting in the back seat in reaction mode. Let's be proactive.

Splitting the co-op makes sense in some settings, but might be worse in others. 

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Software Freedom Day is September 16, 2017

http://wiki.softwarefreedomday.org/2017
If you'd like to get your schools or students involved in a project to help promote Open Source software, Software Freedom Day is a great opportunity.  Think about putting together a small local event for Software Freedom Day in your area and adding it to the SFD site.
How are you planning to support Software Freedom Day in your local area?  Hope you'll join in and help celebrate.